Lady Wolverines capture finale

December 29, 2012

After lopsided losses to large-school powers Gallup and Clovis the previous two nights, the Texico Lady Wolverines were hoping to salvage something out of the Plateau Wireless Holiday Classic on Saturday at Rock Staubus Gym.

CMI photo: Tony BullocksTexico freshman Brianna Reyna shoots over Andrews senior Liz-Aimee Guevara during the second half of the fifth-place game of the Plateau Wireless Holiday Classic at The Rock. Reyna scored a season-high 25 points to help the Lady Wolverines win 41-39.

Freshman Brianna Reyna led the way with easily a season-best 25 points, including two free throws and a basket in the final 20 seconds to rally Texico to a 41-39 win over the Lady Mustangs in the fifth-place game.

Texico (6-4) built a 10-point lead early in the fourth quarter, but watched as Andrews (10-10) put together a 12-2 run for a 39-37 lead with 40 seconds left.

Reyna was fouled going to the basket and hit both free throws, then senior Mel Lucero forced a turnover in backcourt and Reyna dropped in a 10-footer off the left baseline with eight seconds left.

Andrews could not get off a final shot after calling timeout at midcourt.

"I was just ready to play today," said Reyna, whose previous high of 13 points had been achieved three times. "I just wanted to come out with a win."

The teams played evenly through two quarters before Texico outscored the Lady Mustangs 8-2 in the third period to take a six-point lead. The floodgates opened in the final period, with Andrews outscoring the Lady Wolverines 21-17.

Senior guard Kaitlyn Steele had four 3-pointers and 13 of her tedam-high 17 points in the first half for Andrews before Texico coach Richard Luscombe went to a box-and-one defense on her.

"It was basically a halftime adjustment, but we did pretty good job," Luscombe said.

Luscombe said he thought the first two games had taken a toll on his team.

"Everything we did today seemed like it was hard," he said. "I don't know if it was a reflection of the last two teams we played, but it seemed like we had a tough time."

Texico doesn't return to action again until the EPAC tournament, scheduled for Melrose and Eastern New Mexico University in Portales from Jan. 8-12.